Electric or automatic switch-throwing mechanism.



No.' 712,026. Patented oct. 2a,v |902.`

l J. M.. WALKER. ELECTRIC 0R AUTOMATIC. SWITCH THRCWING MECHANISM.

(Application led'Fe'b. 25. 1902. (No Mo'deh) ze@ fyf/fmzwz 7056; 14e/fm UNITED STATES JOSEPH M. \VALKER, OF NEVCASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC OR AUTOMATIC SWITCH-THROWING IVIECHANISIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,026, dated October 28, 1902.

Application filed February 25, 1902. Serial No. 95,607. (No model.)

T0 ctZZ whom; it nfl/tty con/cern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newcastle, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric or Automatic Switch-Throwing Mechanism, ot which improvement the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvementsin electric switches, and relates more particularly to that class employed for electric street-railways.

My present invention has for its object the provision of novel means whereby a switchtongue may be opened or closed by means of operating the controller upon the car, thereby avoiding the necessity of the motorman or conductor leaving the car to operate the switch-tongue by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above-described class .that will be extremely simple in construction, strong, durable, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and one that will not easily become out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

y 'In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specicatiomand wherein like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several Views, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a casing in which are secured the solenoids for operating the switch-throwing mechanism. Fig. 2 is an interior view of the casing which is arranged underground and contains therein the switchthrowing mechanism. Fig. 3 is an end view thereof. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of the rail, switch-tongue, and casing adjacent to the rails through which extends the switch-operating rod.

In the drawings, d represents a casing secured to the pole or placed underground, if desired, having secured therein the electromagnets S of the solenoid type. These inagnets S are electrically connected to the trolley-wire from the insulated section of the wire or may be arranged between the two circuit-breakers interposed in the trolley-wire. The solenoids carry the armature SQ to which is secured the plunger B, extending through the casing d, this plunger extendingv into a casing S2, to which is secured the spring P, the upper end of said spring being secured to the bolt R, securedto the brace Q in the casing. This plunger B extends through the tubular casing T and thence through the casing e, arranged, preferably, in the ground near the curbstone of the sidewalk. The plunger passes downwardly through the casing e into an air-cylinderc, and the referenceletter J represents a head carried at the end of the plunger B, which operates in said cylinder in order to take up the jar incident to the instantaneous operation of the parts when the electric switch-throwing circuit has been formed. The plunger B, near the end thereof, carries a cross-bar G, from which are suspended two hooks E, linked together at the lower end bya plate F. When the cross-bar Gr is lifted, one of the hooks engages one of the crank-pinsU, secured upon the disksD and Z, thereby giving the latter a rotary movement, the links F retaining the opposite hook E from engaging the other crank-pin U, Upon the other side of the disk D is secured a crankpin H, connected to the switch-operating rod A, which passes through the casing d and has secured thereon the spiral spring K, which encircles the switch-operating rod and operates between two bearings secured in the casing, through which the switch-operating rod extends. This switch-operating rod is connected to the switch-tongue M.

When it is desired to operate the switch, the motorman operates the controller to several notches or may give it an entire loop, which will form an independent switch-throwing circuit when the trolley-circuit has been broken, thereby energizing the electromagnets and operating the device in the manner as heretofore described.

The many advantages obtained by the use of my improved device will be readily apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction Without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

ICO

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. An electric shifting device for switches, comprising a casing', a solenoid supported by a cross-head in said casing, a plunger connected to the cores of the said solenoid, a spring connected to the upper end ofthe said plunger, a lower casing into which said plunger extends, a dash-pot within the lower casing for the said plunger, a pair of verticallyarranged disks within the lower casing, inwardly-proj ecting' pins carried by said crossbar to engage the said pins, a link connected to the lower ends of the said hooks, and an operating-rod connecting one of said disks with the switch-tongue.

2. An electric shifting device for switches, comprising a solenoid, a plunger operatively connected to the cores of the said solenoid, a casing arranged below the said solenoid, a verticallyarranged disk journaled in said casing, pins arranged on one face of the said disk, a crank-pin on the opposite face thereof, a pair of hooked bars pivotally secured to the lower end of the said plunger, to engage the said pins, a link connection between the free ends of the said hook-bars, and an operating-rod pivotally secured to the said crankpin and to the switch-tongue.

3. An electric shifting device for switches, comprising a casing, a solenoid supported by a cross-head in said casing, a plunger connected to the cores of the said solenoid, a spring connected to the upper end of the said plunger, a lower casing into which said plunger extends, a dash-pot within the lower casing for the said plunger, a pair of verticallyarranged disks within the lower casing, inwardly-projecting pins carried on the inner faces of the said disks, a crank-pin secured to the outer face of one of the said disks, a cross-bar secured to the plunger and arranged between the said disks, hooks carried by said cross-bar to engage the said pins, links connected to the lower ends of the said hooks, and arranged on opposite sides of the plunger, and an operating-rod connected to the said crank-pin and to the switch-tongue.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribi ng witnesses.

JOSEPH M. `WALKER- In presence of- LoUIs Monsun, M. HUNTER. 

